When Hunters Become the Hunted
Chapter 17
Of Dolls and Arrows
It wasn't until the next morning that Celeste found the light on her face, the warmth coaxing her from her sleep. It was the first time in a while that she'd been able to breathe decently, allowing her a more peaceful rest. She'd also woken to the feeling of Kenzie in her arms, the events from the previous day rushing back to meet her.
Looking down, she took in the young blond's features. Her hair was still a tangled mess, her bangs covering her forehead, a forehead which was pressed firmly into the pillow beneath her. As Celeste looked closer, she found a thumb shoved into the girl's mouth. It was an odd occurrence that she hadn't seen since the girl was two years old.
For a moment, Celeste pulled her closer, committing the feeling to memory. She wanted to remember it for as long as possible.
"Mommy..."
Celeste froze, her blood running cold as she laid there. Karen. Kenzie had called for her mother in her sleep. For just a moment, she was brought back to that afternoon, the image of blood clouding her mind. she swallowed the lump in her throat, closing her eyes before finally pulling away. Her depression was trying to claw at her again.
Sitting up, she ran a hand through her hair, strands falling away through her fingers. She needed a shower.
T
"Dad!"
Turning from the map, Rick looked toward his son. Despite the initial shock, a slight smile was brought to his lips. He was actually glad that he was up and walking around a bit. Granted, he'd prefer it if Carl spent another day in bed if not a couple more than that. He had to wonder though if Lori knew that he was up and out of bed. If she found out, she'd probably blow a gasket and drag the poor boy back by his ear.
"How are you feeling?" Rick asked him, turning around in his spot so that his back now pressed into the bench.
"I'm feeling okay," Carl managed to croak out, trying to hide the pain in his voice.
Rick could see it in his son's face, the pain that he was feeling. He didn't say anything though, trying to save his son's pride. If Carl was up, then there was no sending him back until he was ready to go.
"Mom told me that Daryl found Kenzie. Is it true?" Carl asked, a look of excitement on his face.
Rick nodded his head, patting the spot beside him as he gestured for his son to sit.
"Yes, Daryl did find her," he told him.
"And Sophia?" came Carl's nest question.
Now that he was awake, Rick couldn't lie to him, no matter how much he wanted to spare his son.
"Unfortunately, there's still no sign of her," Rick sighed, watching his son's face fall. "We'll find her though," he said, trying to reassure him as best he could.
"We'll find her," Carl said, nodding his head in agreement. "Daryl found Kenzie, we'll find Sophia," he smiled.
At his son's words, Rick could feel his body relax. As long as Carl still believed, then he knew things would be alright.
T
It was a knock on the bathroom door that drew Celeste from her daze, blinking as she opened up the door. She nearly found herself blushing as she came face to face with Daryl, the man standing in front of her with a hand on the door frame. She'd just finished in the shower, her hair still dripping wet as she stood trying to towel dry it. It wasn't until she thought about the water that she realized she wasn't wearing a bra, the nature of her skin peaking through against the fabric of her tank top.
"I, uh..." Daryl started, swallowing as he tried keeping his eyes level with hers.
So, he had noticed, Celeste thought to herself.
"Maggie said I'd find you up here," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck. "Wanted to check on ya."
Celeste stood there for a moment, merely staring at him. Had he truly just come to check on her? She didn't think that anyone actually needed to check on her.
"I...I'm fine," she told him, tucking a bit of hair behind her ear.
"I was kinda surprised when I didn't find ya in bed with the girl," he told her. "Was sure you were gettin' sick or somethin'."
Celeste almost laughed upon hearing him speak. If only that had been the case.
"I'm fine Daryl," she assured him. "I just couldn't stay in bed any longer. Didn't feel right."
Daryl paused for a moment when he heard this.
"What do ya mean?" he asked. "Didn't feel right."
"I mean," Celeste started, getting ready to elaborate. "Kenzie is here, with me," she told him. "Sophia. Sophia, she's out there some where all alone."
Daryl realized what she was getting at. She was right with her words. Yes, he'd found one little girl, but there was still another one out there somewhere missing. It was like she didn't feel she deserved to have Kenzie back when Carol couldn't have hers too. Carol had already suffered so much and having her daughter missing wasn't helping matters any. End the end, Celeste just didn't feel right sitting idly with a child while she knew that there was another suffering. It just didn't sit right with her.
"Already found one," Daryl said. "I'll find the other."
Celeste felt herself smile. At least someone was still hopeful. Ducking out of the doorway, Celeste walked down the hall, quietly making her way back into the room that Kenzie was sleeping in. She'd turned around when she heard Daryl follow, placing a finger to her lips as she grabbed her button up from the floor beside the bed. Once she had that on, she grabbed her shoes and walked out the door, quietly closing it behind her.
"I don't want Shane comin' in and bothering her," she told him, walking with him outside and onto the porch so she could slip on her shoes.
She hadn't really noticed at first, but she suddenly realized that Daryl only had on a white beater, the shirt stained and dirty. It made her think for a moment, realizing that most of his clothing likely needed washing.
"That yer last clean shirt?" Celeste asked, gesturing to the long sleeve button up that he had slung over his muscled shoulder.
For a moment, Daryl seemed to contemplate her question, looking the shirt over for himself. He then found himself taking in his own appearance in general. The bottom of his boots were caked with dirt, dirty hand prints smeared across the chest of his beater. In that moment, he almost felt embarrassed standing in front of her, heat rising up into his face.
"Maybe," he muttered, looking else where.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the smile on the woman's lips and he could almost feel his heart skip a beat. Despite his occasional awkwardness, he still managed to make her smile. It was something that he could feel proud of, an accomplishment.
"You know," she started, pulling her socks on her feet, butt planted firmly on the wooden boards of the porch. "I can always wash them for you if you like?" she offered, looking up at him as she rested her hand on her knee.
"Ain't gonna make ya do that," he said, almost scoffing at the idea. "Ya my maid."
Again, she nearly laughed. True, she wasn't his maid, but she was offering of her own free will. She hadn't been asked, and frankly, she normally detested having to do laundry. It was something that she wanted to do though. Especially, after everything that he'd done for her. After all, even he needed clean clothes. Clean underwear if nothing else.
"I don't have to be anyone's maid to do them a kindness, now do I?" she asked, a genuine smile on her face as she looked up at him, pushing herself to her feet after shoving her shoes on.
"No, but it ain't yer job," he tried, hands at his sides as he let the hem of his shirt drag the ground.
"Daryl, you're gettin' yer shirt dirty!" she laughed, watching as he quickly tossed it back over his shoulder at her outburst.
For a moment, he almost felt like sticking his tongue out at her just to spite her.
"Daryl!" Rick called out, catching them both off guard. "Down here is ya will," he called, gesturing over to the R.V. as he made his way through their camp.
Daryl followed soon after, Celeste following beside him as she held the from of her over-shirt together. Once everyone was gathered around the old truck parked by the R.V., Rick laid out a map, using stones to hold it in place.
"Alright, everyone's getting new search grids today," Rick announced, eyeing the map in front of him. "Kenzie made it as far as the farm house that Daryl found."
At the mention of his name, Daryl stood straight, a sense of pride welling inside of him. His accomplishment had been noticed and Rick was making sure to point it out.
"If those two stayed together at all or headed remotely in the same direction, then Sophia could have gone farther east than we've been so far," Rick explained, finger trailing over the map as he tapped it against the location of the farmhouse.
"I'd like to help."
The offer came from Jimmy, the Greene's farm hand. The young man looked a little skittish and unsure, but he still stepped forward.
"I know the area pretty well and stuff," he explained.
Rick gave him a slightly skeptical look at his offer, the offer seeming just a little out of place with everything that happened.
"Hershel's okay with this?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow at the young man.
"Yeah, yeah," Jimmy answered, stammering a bit. "Uh, he said I sound ask you."
At the sound of his words, Celeste gave the boy a slightly questionable look. If she had to take a guess, Hershel hadn't okayed this at all. Granted, she still appreciated him wanting to help, but to her, it was obvious that the boy was doing this behind the older man's back.
"Alright then. Thanks," Rick nodded, scratching the back of his neck as he turned back toward the map.
"Just cuz Daryl found little bit, don't mean we're gonna find Sophia," Shane suddenly pipped up, his words causing the group to freeze. "Wouldn't have pegged finding that one."
Daryl watched as Celeste stiffened beside him, her hands curled into fists at her sides. He bit down on his lip for moment, before reaching out and placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'd say it's all the more reason to believe we can find her," Daryl said.
"Findin' that girl was pure dumb luck," Shane muttered.
Daryl had to curl his fingers into Celeste's shoulder upon Shane's words, feeling her weight move forward. It was obvious that Shane was pissing her off.
"It's basic math," Shane pointed out. "And for all we know, they could of gone in separate directions."
Daryl didn't care if it was math or not. He'd managed to find that girl. He'd find Sophia too just to shut Shane up for good and toss it in his face. Maybe then, the ungrateful prick would learn to have a little more faith in people.
"I've got a feeling that they stuck together for a ways," Daryl said, looking over the map. "There's a ridge up here."
Daryl tapped his finger against the map, trialing it up a little ways along the creek bank. That spot would be high enough to see and get an idea of what was around them. If he could do that, he felt that he'd have a better chance at truly finding the girl.
"I borrow a horse, I can make my way up there and get a bird's eye view of the whole grid," he said confidently. "If she'd up there, I'll spot her."
"Good idea," T-Dog nodded, pursing his lips together. "Maybe you'll see your Chupacabra up there too," Dog said, holding back a grin.
At the man's words, both Celeste and Rick looked at him questionably.
"Chupacabra?" Rick asked skeptically, brow high on his head.
"You never heard this?" Dale questioned, unzipping the duffle bag holding the guns that was sitting on the hood of the car.
Daryl stood there eyeing the man as he spot, glancing at Celeste momentarily as she listened intently to Dale's words.
"First night of camp, Daryl tells us that the whole thing reminds him of a time where he went squirrel hunting and saw a Chupacabra," he explained, handing a shotgun over to Rick with a straight face.
"What you braying at jackass?" Daryl sneered as Jimmy laughed, snickering to himself.
Unfortunately, Celeste was trying not to do the same thing, a hand over her mouth as she held it in.
"So, you believe in a blood sucking dog?" Rick asked, a smirk on his face as he chuckled.
"You believe dead people walkin' around?" Daryl tossed back.
At that point, Celeste couldn't hold it in any longer, laughter flooding the air. Daryl stared at her in disbelieve as she laughed, unsure if he should be offended, hurt, or happy that she was actually laughing. He wasn't sure of the last time he'd heard her laugh like that. It was a nice sound, one he found that he liked.
"What you laughin' at?" Daryl asked, looking down at the woman before him.
"I'm sorry," she laughed, holding her side. "I just... You really believe in that?"
Daryl scowled at her response, narrowing his eyes in annoyance. Why did they find it so funny? After all, they had dead people walking around, so why was it so hard to believe? They were already living with the impossible trying to eat them every day. How was a Chupacabra any damn different? He knew what he'd seen and he wasn't stupid. He then caught site of Jimmy reaching to grab the shot gun that'd been laid out, Rick catching it quickly and giving him a questionable look.
"Hey. You ever fire one before?" Rick questioned, looking the kid over.
"Well, if I'm goin' out, I want one," Jimmy replied, not quite answering Rick's question.
There was no way he was just going to hand a gun over to the kid if he didn't know how to shoot it. He didn't want a repeat of Carl, ending up with one of his people out of commission or worse, dead. He wasn't going to take that risk.
"Yeah, and people in hell want slurpees," Daryl spit out in frustration, quickly walking off and away from the group.
For a moment, everyone stared after him, before letting their eyes linger on her. The looks she got from one nearly made her skin scrawl and she found herself running after Dixon, breath heaving in her chest.
"Daryl, wait!" she called out, trying to keep up. "Daryl!"
When he still didn't stop, she sped up further, reaching out and grabbing at his arm to turn him around. She was startled when she turned him around. There was something strange in his eyes that she couldn't place.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" she sighed. "I didn't mean to laugh at you."
He didn't say anything, merely staring down at her as he readjusted the strap on his crossbow.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Like I said, I'm gonna borrow a horse and go up on that ridge."
"Let me go with you," she offered, fingers still gripping lightly at the fabric of his shirt.
She watched as he shook his head, pulling away from her. This sparked a nerve.
"Stop it!" she snapped, stopping him and grabbing his arm again. "Look, I don't want you going out there alone."
"I'm fine on my own," he told her. "Always have been. This ain't no different."
"Daryl, we don't know this land," she pointed out. "Yes, we may have a map, but I'm smart enough to know that areas like that change at a seconds notice on a ridge."
Daryl paused, taking in her words. She was more than right. The only thing was, that was just one more reason for him to turn her down. He didn't need her getting hurt or lost. Not to mention, he didn't want Kenzie waking up on her own if Shane was around. They were lucky that he'd even agreed to keep his distance for the time being.
"Answers still no," he said firmly, turning back around. "Get back to the kid or do laundry," he told her. "'Sides, that's what ya wanted anyway."
With that, she watched him walk away, frustration building inside of him.
"Don't make me tell you I told you so!" she yelled, quickly walking back toward the farm in irritation.
If he wanted to be stupid, then she'd let him. That's why she never liked men to begin with, they were always too stubborn and pig headed for their own good. Or you had those with one of those holier than thou complexes.
"Stupid idiot!" she muttered.
T
He wasn't sure how it had happened. One minute things were fine, he was on the back of a horse. The next he was tumbling down the side of the ridge and into the water. Pain had erupted the moment he'd hit the bottom, shock running through him. It had all happened so fast. Celeste was going to say, "I told you so." He could practically hear it the moment he got back. How the hell was he gonna get back up there?
T
She'd been awake for about an hour, a tiny yawn escaping her mouth. Blue eyes looked out at the world before finally trailing to the door. She could hear voices downstairs, slowly getting up out of bed and following them. She stopped when she was by the stairs, scrunching her eyes together momentarily as she sniffed. She could hear Mrs. Lori, Carl's mother. Kenzie knew that if Mrs. Lori was there, then that must mean that everyone else was too. With that in mind, Kenzie ran down the stairs the rest of the way, running over to the woman and calling out her name.
T
It was almost surreal as he laid there, colors swirling in front of him. He could make out a few shapes here and there. He wasn't sure how long he'd been out. He'd fallen about half way back up when he'd tried to climb his way out, landing and cracking his head against stone. He felt sluggish, like he was floating in limbo between wake and sleep. He blamed it on the pain in his side and head. What was strange though was what he was seeing now, blinking his eyes tiredly as he tried to focus on what was in front of him.
"Why don't ya pull that arrow out, dummy?"
It was Merle, his brows furrowing slightly at the sound of his voice. What was he doing all the way out there?
"You could bind your wound better."
"Merle," Daryl managed to rasp out, a faint smile on his face.
His brother nodded his head, looking him over for a moment.
"What's goin' on here?" he asked. "You takin' a siesta or somethin'?"
"Having a shitty day, bro," Daryl murmured, fighting to keep his eyes open.
"Like me to get you a pillow?" Merle asked, mocking him. "Maybe rub yer feet?"
"Screw you," Daryl groaned, closing his eyes.
He could feel himself falling into the realm of unconsciousness, the fog thickening in his brain. It wasn't something that he was overly accustomed to.
"You're the one screwed from the looks of it," Merle pointed out. "All them years I spent tryin' to make a man of you, this what I get? Look at you."
Daryl tried to tune him out, concentrating on the fuzzy feeling in the back of his head. For a moment, Celeste popped into his head, her beautiful dark hair shining in the light. He could almost see those blue green eyes of hers and the smile on her lips. Those soft pink lips.
"What you even doin' out here?" Merle asked. "You gonna die out here."
"A girl," Daryl whispered, thinking back to Kenzie.
Kenzie had been the reason why things had truly started in the first place. Yes, Sophia was out that, but the little blond had spurred him forward in the beginning. He couldn't let Celeste wallow in the misery of her death. So, he found her and brought her back. Now, he just had to find the other and it'd be done. The chase would be over.
"They lost a little girl."
"So, you got a thing for little girls now?" Merle asked, raising his brows with a curious look as a smirk pulled at him lips.
"Shut up."
Daryl's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Cuz I noticed you ain't out lookin' for old Merle no more."
"Tried like hell to find you."
"Like hell you did," Merle scoffed. "You split, man. Lit out first chance you got."
Daryl blinked, trying to push away the tiredness. If he had to take a guess, he was still bleeding, arrow still stuck in his side. It was an awful feeling.
"You lit out," Daryl rasped. "We went back for ya. Rick and I, we did right by you."
"This the same Rick that cuffed me to the rooftop in the first place?" Merle quipped. "Forced me to cut off my own hand?"
It was then that Daryl realized something, his eyes trailing down. His hand. Merle still had his hand.
"This the one we're talkin' about?" Merle asked as Daryl's world began to spin again. "You his bitch now?"
"I ain't nobody's bitch," Daryl spat, breath hitching in his throat.
Why was he even bothering. It wasn't really his brother, right? His brother's hand was missing, so this couldn't be him.
"You're a joke is what ya are. Playin' errand boy for a bunch of pansy-asses, niggers, and democrats," Merle chuckled. "Yer nothin' but a freak to them. Redneck trash. That's all ya are."
Daryl drew in another breath, lip twitching in annoyance. If it was a hallucination, it was a damn good one. Sounded just like him.
"They're laughing at you behind yer back. Ya know that, don't ya?"
He was trying to get under his skin just like he always did. Even when he wasn't around, the damn bastard still taunted him. Merle made a comment about dog shit as his head lulled to the side, eyes closing. Strangely enough, Daryl could feel his hand smack against his chest, drawing his attention.
"They ain't yer kin, yer blood," Merle said firmly. "Hell, you had any damn nuts in that sack of yers, you'd go back to there and shot your pal Rick in the face for me."
All he did was keep spouting bullshit. That wasn't the kind of person Daryl was and yet Merle still pushed him. Rick had done right by him and that was all that he needed to know. Merle was the fool that ran off. He had other things to worry about now, other people to protect. Again, that face popped up in his head, almost pushing Merle clean out. He could feel her hand on his face, palm resting against his cheek. He almost smiled, the corner of his lip turning upward as he closed his eyes.
"You'll be alright Daryl," she whispered, running her thumb gently against the skin of his jaw.
After a moment, that feeling grew rougher, her hand being replaced by Merle's rough calloused skin.
"Wipe that smile off yer face and you listen to me boy," Merle said, roughly grabbing his face in his hand. "Ain't nobody ever gonna care about you except me, little brother."
Merle patted his cheek with his hand.
"Ain't nobody ever will. No even that pretty little spit fire out there."
For a moment, Daryl's mind went blank, feeling as his brother kicked him in the leg.
"Now come on and get to yer feet, before I have ta kick ya teeth in."
Daryl wasn't sure what happened next as Merle began pulling on his leg, the movement jarring him from his groggy stupor.
"I swear, if you don't..."
Daryl was cut off by a growl as his eyes went wide, reflexes kicking in as he kicked his foot out in fright. He'd had a walker gnawing on his boot. He'd kicked the thing away, quickly reaching for his weapon only to realized that it wasn't loaded. At this point, the thing had grabbed hold of his hair, pulling with an iron grip as it tried to pull him closer. Daryl wasn't going to have any of that though, wrestling around a bit as he kicked it away into a puddle of water. When it got up, he grabbed the closest thing that he could find, quickly brandishing a stick and smashing it in the face. He could see the other one out of the corner of his eye, straddling the one beneath him and caving in its weakened skull with the branch in his hand, before rolling off and reaching for his crossbow again. Unfortunately, the second walker literally had a running start. It left him with little choice, but to brace himself, gripping the arrow in his hands. Without thinking, he jerked it straight out, the plastic fletching slicing his skin up further. He pushed that from his mind though as the walker made its way around a fallen tree trunk, stumbling toward him.
Daryl wasn't sure how he'd managed it, but in the next moment, he'd managed to cock back the string. He'd shoved the arrow into the slot just as the walker stumbled on top of him, then he shot. The bolt had gone clean through the front part of its skull and it fell to the ground dead.
T
So far it had been a long day, Celeste and the other women continuing to take stock of supplies that they had. They were slowly mapping out the surrounding area. She was still irritated that Daryl had gone out on his own in frustration to find Sophia. It had bothered Celeste that he'd gone out on his own, even after suggesting that he take someone with him to search. She'd even offered to go, but he'd turned her down. She knew that he was capable of taking care of himself, but she couldn't help, but to be bothered by it. Not to mention, she felt safer when he was in camp. Shane was strong, just as Rick and the rest of the men were, but Daryl seemed to be more centered with the world around him, more in tune with his environment. He was their tracker and hunter, their lookout man.
Shaking her head, Celeste hefted the load of clothes that she had gathered into her arms, moving back toward the house. She'd agreed to grab everyone's laundry and work on it, despite how much she hated the idea, but she had nothing else to do and only doing Daryl's seemed a little out of place. She didn't wanted to listen to the small camp gossip that it would start as a result. Besides, she wanted to keep herself busy. She'd already found that Kenzie had gotten up, the little girl running around the farm house to look at all of the animals. T-Dog had volunteered to keep watch of her while everyone else went about their day, not being able to do as much due to his arm. Still, he didn't seem to mind as he took her to see the horses, much to Hershel's chagrin. Regardless, the man had consented, allowing the tiny blond to explore his farm. Celeste was grateful for this as it allowed her one less worry for the day.
She remembered when she'd walked inside early that day to grab anything that the Grime's family had left laying around, walking in to find Carl and Kenzie playing a game of memory on the bed. Lori was watching them then. Kenzie was huffing in frustration as she failed to remember where she had seen the secondary little yellow star that was stamped on the back of one of the cards.
"It's not fair!" Kenzie whined, crossing her arms over her little chest, cheeks puffed out.
"Come on, its easy," Carl teased, crawling next to her as her tickled her slightly to make her stop complaining.
Celeste had smiled at the exchange, happy that the two got along so well despite the difference in age. In fact, even Lori seemed to have fallen in love with the little girl, enjoying the time that she spent with her. It was the other reason why Celeste felt comfortable leaving the child in the older woman's care. She already had a son, already knowing full well how to take care of a child. Celeste was still in the process of learning, unsure if she'd ever truly learn how to handle things. In another world, she had imagined herself possibly having kids, but now it was a completely different ballpark. In this new world, she had no clue how things could ever work out in her favor. Especially, with people falling dead around her. She had imagined herself finding someone to love in her old life, maybe settling down in a small house, and having a couple of kids. The chances of finding someone right for her now was practically slim to none. She was pretty sure that any surviving man would only want her for sex, not interested in any real relationship. Starting a relationship meant making ties. Those ties were too easily broken in this world if one were to be bitten. There was no way to salvage that life.
Letting out a sigh, Celeste went back to the task at hand, basket in one hand while she held the strap of a backpack in the other. As she made her way to the porch, she wasn't going to lie, the load was heavy. It wasn't until she actually made it to the porch to step inside to ask Maggie about borrowing some soap that she heard the shout of a walker coming in sight. She had dropped the basket in alarm, turning toward the commotion. Andrea was up on the roof of the RV, rifle in hand as she looked down the scope. She could hear Rick calling to her to hold her fire. As he told her to put it down, T-Dog came running forward, grabbing a bat. Kenzie was behind him, a look of confusion on her tiny face. Realizing the situation at hand, Celeste turned to Kenzie, watching as Rick ran out to the field with the others.
"Kenzie, I want you to go back inside and find Mrs. Lori, okay?" she said, turning the child around.
With a nod, Kenzie ran back to the house and inside, allowing Celeste to let out a sigh of relief. She didn't want the child there with this sort of thing going on. Celeste heard the click of the rifle a moment later, looking up as she watched Andrea try and line up the sights.
"Andrea, just back off," Celeste called out, not wanting to draw more attention with the sound of gun fire. "Andrea!"
Unable to get a proper view in her sights, Andrea laid down on her stomach, leveling the rifle with the rim of the RV.
"Andrea, don't," Dale told her, watching as she just seemed to brush it off.
"Back off Dale, I've got it," she said.
"Andrea!" Celeste snapped, quickening her pace toward the RV. "Would you just stop and listen!"
Again, Andrea ignored any word for her to stop, placing her finger on the trigger as she zeroed in on her target. The light still reflected off of the scope, but not as much. She still couldn't make out any distinguishing features on the walker though, the scope only going out so far in letting her see.
"Andrea, you're going to get us in trouble," Celeste tried to tell her. "Rick knows what he's doing! Don't-"
Her voice fell on deaf ears as the sound of the rifle going off cut into her, eyes going wide as she heard Rick and the others shouting, seeming to scramble toward the walker. It wasn't until she walked over to the fence, hands gripping at the wood that she began to piece together what had happened. The men were hurrying forward, carrying the individual.
"No..." she breathed out, pushing forward, her heart pounding in her chest. "No!" she cried out, running forward.
Andrea's face fell as she watched Celeste run toward Rick and the others.
"Daryl!" she heard her scream.
"Oh no..." Andrea whispered.
"Daryl!" Celeste cried out, rushing forward as she stumbled over her own feet.
Tears were in her eyes as she came upon them, nearly falling to her knees. Dale was right behind her, barely keeping up.
"Easy now," Rick said, holding a hand up.
He watched as she shook, eyes flicking all over the place. The man was covered in blood and dirt from head to toe, clothing torn beyond repair when it came to his shirt. Blood trickled from his forehead and down his eye.
"Try and take a breath darlin'," Rick told her. "In fact, why don't you go ahead and get Hershel," he suggested.
Slowly, Celeste nodded her head. She was hesitant, but giving Daryl another look, she ran back to the farm house as fast as her legs could carry her. Luckily, she didn't have to go very far, seeing the old vet and his family already standing outside in the wake of the chaos.
"Hershel!" she cried out, nearly falling to the ground.
"What's going on?" he asked, eyes still looking around as they did when he'd first stepped outside.
Celeste didn't even realize that Kenzie had followed the group out of the house, her little eyes glancing around as she stood by Lori.
"I-it's Daryl," Celeste cried. "He's been shot!"
Without further need of explanation the old vet nodded his head, quickly calling for Patricia's help. The moment Rick and the others entered the house with Daryl they were being pulled into a room without a second thought. The whole time, Celeste sat in a corner in the hall, hands in her hair as thoughts ran through her head. She wasn't sure how long she sat there, but she couldn't help the tears that fell, the salty liquid burning her cheeks. She knew that had Andrea been even an inch further, then Daryl would be dead. The thought itself sent a wave of nausea through her body, stomach twisting in knots as she tried to steady her breathing.
Through the door she could hear muffled talking, Hershel asking why Andrea had shot in the first place. The stupid idiot had felt she had something to prove, disregarding the simplest order to hold her fire. Instead, she had nearly killed a man in cold blood. Since things had gone down at the CDC, Andrea had barely been allowed to even touch a gun, let alone clean one. Then when she finally had one...
"Celeste?"
The woman's head shot up in question as Rick stepped from the room, a faint smile on his face.
"It's alright," he told her. "He's gonna be just fine."
"Andrea shot him," she choked out, fists clenched at her sides.
"The bullet only grazed him," he explained. "But he took an arrow to the side."
At this, Celeste frowned, brows furrowed in confusion.
"That's what Hershel said it looked like."
Slowly, she nodded her head, taking in a breath of air.
"We won't know more until he wakes up though," he told her, looking down at her for moment.
He had to admit, he felt sorry for her. He could tell that the two had grown some what close. How close though, he wasn't sure, but he could tell that they cared for each other. If the way that she was reacting now was any indication, then he could see that it was more than that. He was merely grateful that Daryl had managed to find his way back after everything. He wasn't sure if Celeste would have been able to stomach it otherwise.
"If you like, you can go in and see him."
Celeste nodded without hesitation, slowly pulling herself up with Rick's help, her legs stiff from sitting for so long. Once she was on her feet, she made her way toward the door, pushing it open as she held her breath. What she saw next was unexpected, shaking her to say the least. As she swallowed the lump in her throat, she stepped closer, not even noticing as Hershel left the room. It was just her and Daryl and she found herself shaking once more. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, she pulled a chair over to the side of the bed, sitting down as a shudder ran through her. Slowly, she reached a hand out, her fingertips coming in contact with the scruff of his cheek. He looked terrible. Hershel had tried his best to clean the man up, but there was only so much that the older gentleman could do.
Taking the water bowl that had been left on the nightstand in her hands, she wrung out the reddened cloth, reaching forward and dabbing at his forehead. He shifted slightly for a moment, her hopes rising. They were quickly dashed though as he remained still afterward, save for the fluttering beneath his eyelids as he lay in sleep.
T
All he could see was darkness as he laid there. He wasn't sure where he was at. He remembered feeling a shot of pain through his head and then darkness. Was he dead? No. No, he couldn't be. He could still feel the faint rise and fall of his own chest. As he laid there, he could faintly feel something on his hand, a gentle warmth. The feeling was a foreign on, confusing him as he tried to place what it was. Something ran across his hand and he felt a wetness; hot liquid. He could have sworn he heard a feminine voice, the body of it familiar to him. Who was it? He knew who it was, but he was drawing a blank. He stilled his thoughts as the warmth suddenly disappeared, a feeling of loss coming over him. It was swept away though when he felt it suddenly adorn his face. The warmth moving gently across his cheek. He was sure he heard one last thing before his conscious drifted off. A pleading prayer.